Systems Analysis and Technology Assessment

Because of the inherent inertia of the energy system, any decisions taken in the energy sector have particularly long term impacts. Opportunities offered by new technologies and potential negative consequences on the environment and on society can be identified in time by provident and pro-active decision making. A pre-requisite for such a course of action is a thorough understanding of complex systems, which allows decision makers to find a balance between the technical and economic possibilities of to-day, and the long term development perspectives.

The department provides methods and tools which support problem solving in the field of energy related systems analysis and technology assessment. Specific knowledge is generated which can guide decision makers from science, policy and industry to identify long term research priorities, and to establish a framework supporting sound energy-, environmental- and research-policy.

The systems analysis work of the department combines top-down analysis of the overall energy supply system at regional, national and European level with technology oriented bottom-up studies in relevant areas like Life Cycle Assessment,the assessment of re-source potentials of renewable energies and economic analyses. Conceptual work on sustainability issues, on technological learning and on market introduction mechanism of new technologies complete the field of activities.

Research activities of the department Systems Analysis and Technology Assessment can be allocated to the following four keyareas:

(I) Technical-economic-environmental analyses of the deployment of emerging energy technologies

(II) Development of concepts for sustainable energy systems by means of scenarios techniques

(III) Investigation of market introduction and implementation strategies for new technologies and structures in the energy field

(IV) Conceptual work on the advancement of scientific system analysis methods with regard to the specific qualities of renewable energies and decentralized supply structures